How has Trump been tough on Russia? Think tank counts the ways

U.S. President Donald Trump has been much tougher on Russia than his predecessor, a think tank reported.

U.S. President Donald Trump has made several anti-Russia moves in his time in office. / AP

Trump has made several anti-Russia moves both economically and militarily in the past two years, the Security Studies Group said.

President Barack Obama, meanwhile, defended Russian President Vladimir Putin during the “reset” era, only turning on Moscow after its 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Trump’s anti-Russia moves include:

June 2018, the Trump administration imposed sanctions against five Russian entities and three Russian individuals for enabling Russia’s military and intelligence units to increase Russia’s offensive cyber capabilities.

March 2018, Trump ordered the expulsion of 48 Russian intelligence officers from the U.S. and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. The administration imposed sanctions against 16 Russian entities & individuals for their roles in Russian interference in the 2016 election.

April 2018, the Trump administration imposed sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs and the 12 companies they own or control, 17 senior Russian government officials, and a state-owned Russian weapons trading company and a bank it owns.